Electrical-circuit protector.



BATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

0. A. ROLFE. ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1903.

UNITED sTArns r ATnNT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. ROLFE, OF ADRIAN,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROLFE ELECTRIC CO., OFROCHESTER, NElV YORK, A CORPORATION OF NElV YORK.

ELECTRICAL-CIRCUIT PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed September 25, 1903. Serial No. 174,600.

lb all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. RoLFn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Adrian, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Electrical- Circuit Protectors, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to electrical-circuit protectors for protectinginstruments and circuits from unduly-strong currents.

The principal object of the invention is to make possible the use oncertain forms of protectors of self-soldering heat-cartridges embodyingrecent inventions made by me and set forth and claimed in certaincopending applications for patentsto wit, Serial No. 104,021, filedApril 21, 1902, and Serial No. 138,4 L9, filed December 1, 1902.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an end elevation of a portionof an assembling rack or board provided with a set of protectors of thekind in which it is desired to employ my self-soldering heat-cartridges,together with such cartridges embodied therein, in accordance with mypresent invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing in perspective a portion ofthe protector and of the cartridge. Fig. 3 is a similar perspective viewof another portion of the protector and the means by which the use ofthe cartridge is made possible. Fig. 1 is a view of-a detail ofconstruction. Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section of the cartridge.

In Fig. 1 I have shown an end elevation of a portion of a board or rackprovided with protectors to which I desire to apply my selfsolderingheatcartridges. This protectorboard comprises, essentially, a centralupright or supportA and protectors B B, mounted on opposite sidesthereof. It is understood that the protectors are arranged in rowslengthwise of the board.

As the protector shown herein comprises no part of my present invention,I will refer to it but briefly. It consists of suitable linesprings 1 1and 2 2, suitably connected at their lower ends to the support A byconnecting-screws 3 3, which are provided with suitableinsulating-sleeves 4: at, so as to properly insulate the lower ends ofthe line-springs from one another and provide them with connections bywhich they can be properly connected in the circuit, it being understoodthat each protector B is for one circuit. The peculiarity of this formof protector is that the upper ends of the springs 1 and 2 are forked,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and a punched-out portion 5 is left in therear, as it may be said, of the body of the spring. I have shownheat-cartridges C C, supported at the upper ends of these springs 1 1and 2 2 in each protector.

Each heat-cartridge consists of an insulating-sleeve 6, made ofvulcanite or the like, a terminal cap 7 at one end of the sleeve 6, anda metallic collar 8 at the other end of the same, as shown in Fig. 5. Ametal plug 9 fits within the sleeve 6 and has a reduced threaded end 10,which screws into a threaded socket in the metallic terminal 7. A coilof wire 12 is wound about a metal spindle 12, one of whose ends isthreaded and fitted into a plug 12", of insulating material, and theother of which projects from the sleeve and the collar 8 and isbifurcated. A star-wheel 13 is mounted between the bifurcated end of thecartridge, and a small quantity of solder is arranged about thestar-wheel, being conveniently introduced through small apertures M14 inthe bifurcated ends. The metallic terminal 7 is provided with a head 15,which is adapted to slide between the forked ends .of the upper end ofthe spring 2 and the strip 5 thereon. A clip D is mounted upon the upperend of the spring 1. This clip is provided with a vertically-arrangedback portion 16 and a horizontally-extending lip 17, provided with anaperture 18 and connected with the back 16 by a tongue 19 of less widththan the back 16 and lip 17. Thus the clip can be fitted to the spring 1by sliding the back 16 down between the forked sides of said spring andthe strip 5 thereon, and when so mounted the lip 17 will projectforwardly-that is, in toward the other line-spring, as shown in Fig. 1.The heat-cartridge C is thus mounted by having one of its ends inengagement with one of the springs 2 by means of the head 15 on saidcartridge and its other end engaged by having a prong or spoke of thestar-wheel 13 inserted in the aperture 18 in the clip D and having theclip in engagement with the other line-spring 1. It will be understood,of course, that the arrangement of the clips in connection with theline-springs can be reversed, the clips being mounted on the springs 52,if desired; but the arrangement shown is preferred.

The device I have thus constructed and mounted operates as follows:Under normal conditions the apparatus is as shown in Fig. 1 in fulllines. An unduly-strong current, however, will cause the heat-coil inthe heatcartridge to soften the solder holding the starwheel 13 inplace, and thereby release said wheel, which will be turned bytheline-spring 1, and will thus release said spring, which will fly outand become disconnected with the star-wheel, and thereby break or openthe circuit. After this operation the solder will harden again and holdthe star-wheel 13 rigidly in position, after which it can be reengagedwith the clip D to put the apparatus again in normal condition. By thisarrangement it will be seen that self-soldering heatcartridges embodyingmy invention can be readily applied to protectors of the kind set forth,in which the back strips 5 5 on the line springs prevent directapplication of such cartridges in a convenient manner because ofdifficulty in securing engagement of the starwheels with suchline-springs. hen so equipped, these protectors will have all theadvantages of self-soldering heat-cartridges, which, as previously setforth in my other applications, make repairs and cost of maintenancepractically nothing.

The clips D can be easily and cheaply constructed by stamping them outin the form of flat metallic blanks, as shown in Fig. 4c, and thenbending them to the desired shape.

The form of heat-cartridge which I have shown herein while it embodiesthe principles of construction and voperation set forth in my aforesaidapplications is novel in specific construction, and that construction Iintend to claim herein.

It will be understood that changes and modifications can be made in theapparatus herein set forth without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an electrical-circuit protector,the combination of spring means for controlling the circuit, aheat-cartridge, and an intermediate member holding said cartridge andsaid spring means together, substantially as described.

2. In an electrical-circuit protector, the combination of line-springsfor controlling the circuit, a heat-cartridge engaging one of saidlinesprings, and an intermediate member mechanically connecting saidheat-cartridge and the other line-spring, substantially as described.

3. In an electrical-circuit protector, the combination with a pair ofline-springs controlling the circuit, of a heat-cartridge engaging oneof said line-springs, and a detachable clip adapted to form a connectionbetween the other line-spring and said cartridge, substantially asdescribed.

1. In an electrical-circuit protector,the combination of a pair ofline-springs for controlling the circuit, a self-solderingheat-cartridge comprising a heat-concentrating device and aself-soldering movable part, and a clip adapted to engage the otherline-spring and said movable part on said heat-cartridge, substantiallyas described.

5. In an electrical-circuit protector, the combination of a pair ofline-springs for controlling the circuit, a heat-cartridge comprisingmeans for engaging one of said springs, a heatconcentratingdevice, apivoted abutment held normallyin position by softenable material, and adetachable clip adapted to engage the other line-spring and also toengage said pivoted abutment on the heat-cartridge, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an electrical-circuit protector,the combination of a pair ofline-springs, a heat-cartridge comprising means for engaging one of saidsprings, a heat-concentrating device, a pivoted abutment, and a smallquantity of solder engaging said abutment, and a detachable clip Dadapted to engage the other line spring and having an aperture in whichthe abutment on said heat-cartridge can be inserted, substantially asdescribed.

'7. In an electrical-circuit protector, the combination of a pair ofline-springs 1 and 2 having forked ends provided with back strips 5 5, aheat-cartridge C comprising an insulatingsleeve 6, a metallic terminal 7having a head 15, a heat-concentrating device confined within the sleeve6, a star-wheel 13, solder holding said star-wheel normally in position,a clip D having a back 16 adapted to engage one of said line-springs,and a laterally-projecting lip 17 having an aperture 18, substantiallyas described.

8. In an electrical-circuit protector, a clip adapted to form amechanical connection between a line-spring and a heat-cartridge andprovided with means for engaging the same, substantially as described.

9. In an electrical-circuit protector, a clip D having a back 16 and alip 17 provided with an aperture 18, said lip and back being connectedby a narrow tongue 19, substantially as described.

10. In an electrical-circuit protector, a heatcartridge 0 comprising aninsulating-sleeve 6, a metallicterminal 7 having a head 15, aheat-concentrating device confined within the sleeve 6, a pivotedabutment secured to the other end of the heat-cartridge, and softenablematerial for holding said abutment normally in position, substantiallyas described.

11. In an electrical-circuit protector, a heatcartridge comprising aninsulating-sleeve 6, a metallic terminal 7 having a head 15, aheatconcentrating device confined within the sleeve 6, a plug alsoarranged therein and having a reduced and threaded end engaging theterminal 7, said plug being constructed with a bifurcated end whichprojects from the sleeve 6, a star-wheel mounted between the forkedportion of said plug, and a small quantity of solder holding saidstar-Wheel normally in position, substantially as described.

12. An electrical-circuit protector comprisingthermally-operablecircuit-controlling instrumentalities, and securing means holding thesame normally from operation, said securing means being composed ofseparable members and the protector having provisions for automaticallyresettingitself in operative condition.

13. An electrical-circuit protector comprisingthermally-operablecircuit-controlling instrumentalities, and securing means holding thesame normally from operation, said securing means being composed ofseparable members and the protector having provisions for automaticallyresetting itself in operative condition and resecuring itself in suchcondition.

14. An electrical-circuit protector comprising spring-actuatedcircuit-controlling instrumentalities, and securing means normallyholding said instrumentalities from operating, said securing means beingcomposed of separable members, and having provisions Whereby it isautomatically resoldered in operative condition.

15. An electrical-circuit protector comprising a circuit-opening spring,securing means for holding said spring against action, and means forholding the securing means against the strain of the spring, saidsecuring means being composed of separable members, said members beingprovided with engaging devices, one of which is movable and havingprovisions for automatically resoldering itself after release, and aheat-concentrating device for generating heat on the passage of anunduly-strong current.

16. An electrical-circuit protector,comprising a pair of line-springsand a restraining device normally holding said line-springs againstaction, said restraining device comprising a pair of separable membersadapted to engage one another, one of Which has provisions forautomatically resoldering itself in operative condition.

17. An electrical-circuit protector comprising circuit-controllinginstrumentalities, and securing means normally holding the same againstoperation, said securing means being composed of a pair of separablemembers, one of which has provisions whereby it is automatically resetduring operation and resoldered in such reset condition.

18. In apparatus of the class specified, a heat-cartridge, comprising atubular casing of insulating material, a metallic head at one end ofsaid casing, a line-spring-engaging device at the other end thereof, anda core conlined within the casing, said core being provided with a shankextending through the end of the casing and engaging said head, andbeing also provided with a heat-coil and carrying the saidline-spring-engaging device, substantially as described.

19. A heat-cartridge for electrical-circuit protectors having itsopposite ends provided with detachable line-spring-engaging devices, anda connection extending through the body of the cartridge for detachablyconnecting said devices together.

20. A heat-cartridge for electrical-circuit protectors, havingdetachable line-spring-engaging devices one of which has provisions forautomatically resoldering itself for operation, and means for detachablyconnecting said devices to the cartridge.

21. A heat-cartridge for electrical-circuit protectors having adetachable line-spring-engaging device having provisions forautomatically resolderingitself in operative condition.

22. A heat-cartridge for electrical-circuit protectors having abodily-removable core provided with a heating device and also with aline-spring-engaging device, which has provisions for automaticallyresoldering itself in operative condition.

23. In apparatus of the class specified, a heat-cartridge comprisingseparable members, one of which has provisions for automaticallyresetting itself in operative condition and resecuring itself in suchcondition.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 2d day ofSeptember, A. D. 1903.

CHARLES A. ROLFE.

Witnesses:

A. MILLER BELFIELD, 1. 0. LEE.

